Conveyer for grain binders



Sept. l, 1931. c. F. ROUTHE:

CONVEYER FOR GRAIN BINDERS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec.

CttornegvI Sept. l, 1931. c. F. RouTH CONVEYER FOR GRAIN BINDERS Filed Dec. 1e, 1929 2 ,Sheets-Sheet 2 `aienteci Sept. l', 193i CHRISTIAN F. nourris, or lmiznwoon FALLS, MINNnso'rA coNvEYER ron einen@ Binnmis Application filed Dcember`16, y1921-), Serial N'.414,528"."

This invention relates to canvas conveyers for grain binders and is applicable to such conveyers whether .of theapron type or elevator type.

" An obj ectionable feature of such conveyers is that the canvas will shrink when moist as when wet grainzis being handled, and will` expand when dry, thereby causing too muchY or too little tension 'on the conveyer rollers.l An object of the present invention therefore' resides. in the provision of :an automaticV tension device whichwill allow for shrinkage of the canvas, and which'will take up the slack when the canvas dries out;

15'. A further object ofthe inventionconsists in the provision of such a device which is free from liability to interfere with the -passage of the canvas over the conveyerrollers. g Another object of the invention consists in the provision of a tension device-which is readilyadapted-to conveyers of different widths. 'l

Still kanother' object of the invention con-.- sists. in providing a tension device whichiis A stron anddurablein operation and which may e applied .to the conventional canvas conveyers in general use.4 i

Other objects and advantages of the .invention will be apparent from .thefollow- '301 ing description when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings,in which Figure lis a plan view of a conveyer with the novel tension device incorporated therein, parts being brokenV away to more clearly disclose the construction.Y

Figure 2 is a side elevationalview of the conveyer and tension device. p p' Figure Bis a fragmentary detail view of the tensiondevice.

Figure 4: is a verticalfsectional view through the tension device and related parts. Figure 5 isa horizontal sectional view through the spring-containing tube of the tightener or tension devicegand f present instance.v :These springs have one tube-by 'means of bolts 6.'

. Figure 6 is a perspective view'of the tube partly broken away. ,Y

Referring tothe drawings in greater de; tail the numeral l indicates a pair of spaced rollersof conventional type over which extendsa belt 2 usually formed of canvas and provided with-transverse slats 3. This is the .usual construction of conveyers 'commonly known asthe apron canvas for conveying the grain transversely of the direction. of movement of the binder to thel binding apparatus, and forcarrying away the tied bundles of grain.

These canvases'quite often'become damp in the early morning by reason ofthe apo paratus handling grain moistened by dew or .the like, and later. on in the day become dried out. y These different conditions, kof course, causeacontraction and expansion of the conveyer belt andconsiderable diculties are caused by reason of the sagging of the belt or ,the tooxtight binding of the belt on the rollers. To overcome thesev diiliculties I `have provided the present construction of tensioningdevice or tightener for connecting together, in anfexpansble manner, the ends ofthebeltQ.

, Inthepresent embodiment of the invention aV metal tube 4' is providedv which is secured to one end of the beltA 2 and extends transversely thereof, as indicated in Figure 1. .This tube forms' an inclosre and anchoringmeans for a lplurality oftension springs 5, four of these springs beingshown in the end thereof anchored to the interior of the Two of lthe springs extend toward one vend of the tube from:their anchoringmeans, and the other two springs extend vtoward the opposite end thereof. The outer ends of the springs are connectedto flexible-members 7 preferably leather straps, which are threaded through the ends of the respective springs and are doubled upon themselves, as indicated vin Figure 5. These straps are passed over the guide bearings S and extend outwardly of the tube l through slots 9 and are provided with buckles by means of Which the straps are detachably connected to straps 11 which are anchored to the opposite end of the belt. By this means it will be apparent y that any contraction of the canvas or other material of which the belt conveyer is made, will be allowed for through the extension of the springs 5 longitudinally of the tube and transversely of the belt. Likewise, as the materiall of the belt expands the springs 5v will contract, thereby maintaining a substantially uniform tension or binding Aaction over the rollers `1.

In order that access maybe conveniently had to the interior of the tube t'for repair# ing broken springs or straps,rsli ts 12 Aare provided in the metal of the tube at about the point of connection between the springs and straps. By means of these slits the metalV outlined by the slitsmay ,be bent up when desired as indicated in'Figure 6, thus permitting access to the interior of the tube. The4 Width of canvas or other material used in these belt conveyers sometimes varies and in order that the tube t may be used withv 'different widths of 5 canvas, the same is made extensible bythe .useof plugs l1.3 preferably of' wood. lIhese vplugs are provided with a plurality of periorationsl 14 through the mediumof which and .the bolts 15, the plugs imayibe locked -in their. innermost position as. shown inzFigure 5, or in an intermediateposition as indicated iin Figure 8, thusirendering .the length ofthe tube adjustable to conform' to varying widths Yof canvas employed in the conveyer.

yDue to the fact that the force applied to the `strap 7 is at-a distance somewhat above the base of the" tubey Il, it will beiapparent that' there is a .tendency -forthe .tubeto'tilt forward and thustearout the' rivets 1.6 by

t which the tubepis kattached .to the belt, 'and in order to prevent this tilting action and thereby eliminate this dilicultyf, springs 137 are provided. These springs areanchored to the tube 4 at a point adjacent .the top thereof, as vbyV means 'of the rods 18, and the opposite ends vof the springs are anchored .to thefadjacent slat 19 of the'iconveyerby means of the rods 2.0.. It will thus. appear thatI .these springs provide a downward-pull on what maybe termed therear .end or side of the tubey 4., and thus servev to hold they samedown against the canvas and prevent the pulling ofut .of `therivets 16. 7

It 1s desirable, ofcourse, to coverthe con- A. necting straps 7 and 11 and the buckles 10,

as Well as the springs 17, so as to prevent interference of v these elements with' the material being handled by the conveyer, and tor this purpose one of the ends 210i2 the beltextends beyond. the connecting meansV and overlaps tube 4 and spring 17 with sun'icient margin to maintain acovering for tliese elements even when the belt is contracted to its greatest extent.

The operation and general arrangement of belts of this type is Well understood and need not be described herein except to say that with the present novel arrangement by which an elastic connection is made between the ends of the belt, the action of the con veyer is greatly improved due to the fact that expansion and contraction of the belt body is automatically taken care of .by the tension device, and that the construction by which .this .end is .attained is so designed as to prevent yany interference in the passage of the conveyer or belt over the rollers. It will alsobe apparent that the tensioning Ydevice as shown and described is adaptable to use with conveyer of varying widths by reason' ofthe adjustable length of thel tube t, and that means are provided k:tor permitting ready access Ato the interior ofthe .tube for the purpose of repair of the operating parts.

In accordance with .the patent statutes Il have described what I now. believe .to be `the preferred form of construction, .but inasmuch as various minor changes may :be kmade in the details of constructiomitf is intended thatV such changes be included within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire .to secure by Letters Patent is: f

1. tightening means for a conveyer belt,

said means including a tube secured trans.`

versely of one endet-the belt, a's ring. .in said tube, and vflexible means Ihaving one end connected to said spring and fthe other. .end connected to the opposite end of said belt. 2. A tightening means for aconveyierbelt, said means including a tube secured trans# versely of one endof the belt, a spring" in said tube, flexible means having oneend connected to said spring and the other end con-y nected to the opposite end of saidbelt, andv extensible members mounted in the ends of said tube. A V

3. A' tightening means .for a conveyer belt, said means including a tubelsecured to the belt transversely of one end thereof, a spring insaid tube, means for connectingan end -of said Spring to ,the .other end 1i the belt; and elastic valeairls i017 preventing thev tilting ,Of said tube.

4. tightening means for al conveyer belt, said means including'a tube'secnred trans;

versely ofone end 'olif theA belt, av springin said tube, means Afor connecting an' end of said spring with .the otherv endlof said belt, a slat secured. transversely of the belt Yand spaced `from said'tube,and coil springs hav! ing their respective ends secured adjacent the top of said tube andadjacent theb'otftom of said sl-at.

5. In a conveyer, a tighteningelement in- Y cluding a metal tube, coil springs in said tube, means for anchoring one end of each of said springs to the tube, flexible means attached t the other ends of said springs and adapted to be connected to the conveyer, said tube provided with slits adjacent the connections between the springs and flexible means, whereby the metal between said slits may be bent upwardly to aord access to the interior of the tube.

CHRISTIAN F. ROUTHE. 

